The best festivals around the world

In some ways, the festival is the ultimate holiday. A life-changing experience, crammed into a few days, which transforms you from jaded commuter into free spirit, or opens your mind through art, music, poetry, performance.

Glastonbury may have sold out in seconds flat - but there are enough festivals around the world to keep us happy all year long, from literary highs to euphoric trance. So pack your wings and stilts. Take your clothes off and paint your bum blue, try unidentifiable street food and circus skills, crowd-surf to the front and launch yourself into space from a giant catapult. And lose it, just for a few days. You don't even have to get travel insurance. Will this be the year you finally make it to Burning Man and turn into a silver fish?

JANUARY

CARTAGENA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL, COLOMBIA

5-14 January 2018 For eight days each January, Cartagena opens some of its most charming colonial spaces, indoors and out, to the public for performances by classical musicians from around the world. The festival was founded by Italian-American harpist Victor Salvi and his wife Julia who have a passion for classic music; as well as live performances, the festival runs masterclasses for young artists. For more information, visit cartagenamusicfestival.com

TUNISIA

Les Dunes Electroniques, Tunisia

2018 dates to be released There can't be many festivals with a more eccentric location than Les Dunes Electroniques: the set of the Star Wars movies among the sand dunes of the Tunisian desert. Revellers dressed as Luke Skywalker and friends get down to EDM tunes by the likes of N'TO, Kölsch and Fabrika Crew, surf the sand dunes or re-enact their favourite lightsaber battles.

MARCH

MOROCCO Beyond Sahara | 3-6 March 2017 Beyond Sahara is an adventure-travel party for 250 people, where adrenalin-rush activities include sand-boarding, a 5km desert run and a camel convoy. There is also traditional Moroccan cooking and a mix of street-food stars from London, and four-posters in which to bed down when you're all partied out. Best of all there's none of the usual festival angst when your phone goes dead - you're miles away from mobile reception anyway. For more information, visit fixers.travel

ST MARTIN, THE CARIBBEANSXMusic | 15-19 March 2017 Underground house and techno for the kind of discerning dance-music-lovers you would normally find riding a tandem through Burning Man Festival, handing out bindis at DC10 or grinning ear-to-ear at BPM in Mexico; SXMusic is a new boutique festival taking place for five sunshiney days on St Martin. Sort of Ibiza vibes in the Caribbean, only the beaches are even better, the drinks cheaper, and there's a whole summer's worth of DJs packed into one short, spectacular burst. Names to get excited about include Lee Burridge, Jamie Jones, DJ Tennis, Psychemagik, Adriatique, Thugfucker, Dubfire and Blond:ish. For more information, visit sxmusicfestival.com

AUSTRALIA Port Fairy Folk Festival | 10-13 March 2017 So-called because it takes place in the artsy little town of Port Fairy, a stop on the stunning Great Ocean Road, this four-day folk-music fest combines delightful scenery with hundreds of acts ranging across roots, Celtic, folk, country, bluegrass, blues, jazz, rock, crossover and world music, as well as children's entertainment, workshops and fringe acts.For more information, visit portfairyfolkfestival.com

MELBOURNEMelbourne International Comedy Festival | 29 March-23 April 2017 One of the three biggest comedy festivals in the world, with a dynamic line-up of international and home-grown comedy, cabaret, street performance, theatre and visual arts. For more information, visit comedyfestival.com.au

BIRMINGHAMFlatpack Film Festival | 2017 dates to be released This curiously inventive festival roams around the entire city, with venues ranging from a 100-year-old cinema to an 18th-century cathedral - while events include Finnish animation sculptures, a virtual dinner party, camera obscuras, a celebration of long-forgotten Japanese silent stars and even, miaow, internet cats. For more information, visit flatpackfestival.org.uk

MALTAAnnie Mac's Lost & Found festival | 2017 dates to be released Veteran DJ Annie Mac takes her 'Presents' series to another level with a four-day festival on Malta. As well as top-notch DJs, the festival makes the most of its island location with castle raves, boat parties and pool parties to get your summer started early. For more information, visit lostandfoundfestival.com

AUSTRALIA Byron Bay Bluesfest | 13-17 April 2017 [/b] The Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm hosts the annual Bluesfest music festival, where you can listen to the likes of Mary J Blige and The Lumineers. For more information, visit bluesfest.com.au

AUSTRIATanzcafe Arlberg | 2-17 April 2017 Tanzcafe Arlberg festival - a new fixture on the Austrian ski scene's calendar - is an homage to the region's Twenties boom years, which saw the small town of Lech overrun by Jazz bands and Swing orchestras. The end-of-season musical extravaganza's highlights include performances by Jazz icons at the boutique Kristiania hotel. For more information, visit lech-zuers.at/tanzcafe-arlberg/

Snowbombing | 3-8 April 2017 The world's biggest festival in the snow takes place in Mayrhofen, Austria. The line-up is immense and there's also the Arctic Disco, which takes place in a giant nightclub igloo. Plus there's nearly 500km of piste, a glacier and an award-winning terrain park. For more information, visit snowbombing.com

CALIFORNIACoachella | 14-23 April 2017 The first major music event in the annual festival calendar, Coachella - California's glossy, glam, palm-tree-peppered answer to Glastonbury - returns. Expect clear skies, designer-hippie ensembles and not a squelch of mud under foot. For more information, visit coachella.com

CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey Floral Festival | 2017 dates to be released The beauty of Guernsey's flora and fauna will be celebrated over this eight-day horticultural celebration. Private coastal gardens are opening their gates and offering tours, there are sweet fruit liqueurs to be sampled at Guernsey's Haut Maison orchard and distillery, and visitors can walk to Lihou Island, accessible at low tide. For more information, visit floralguernsey.co.uk

SPAINNational Cheese Festival | 29 April-2 May 2017 More than 100,000 avid food-fans are expected to flock to the historic main square of Trujillo (birthplace of the Conquistadors) in Spain this summer for what can quite literally be described as a cheese-fest. Visitors will be able to sample over 500 different flavours and dine in one of the square's six restaurants, which will be serving up traditional dishes starring the festival's star - queso - and other regional delicacies. For more information, visit trujillovillasespana.com/fiestas-festivals . Bespoke tours are available with Trujillo Villas España (trujillovillasespana.com)

TURKEYCappadox | 2017 dates to be released Held in the incredible space-like landscape of Cappadocia in Central Anatolia, Cappadox festival is just as unique as the setting. Over the course of three days, there's an eclectic mix of music, art performances, dining events and outdoor activities such as cycling, yoga and nature walks to take in the beauty of this remote region. For more information, visit cappadox.com

CORNWALLThe Masked Ball |2017 dates to be released For one weekend of the year, the cliffs above the sleepy Cornish seaside town of Porthleven are turned into a hotbed of masked shenanigans. Celebrating a decade of revelry, The Masked Ball is essentially a giant themed party in a wonderful remote location, with festival-goers expected to dress up and look just as good as those on stage. For more information, visit summer.maskedball.net

NEW YORK Frieze Art Fair | 5-7 May 2017 A highlight of the year for the culturally minded, the Frieze Art Fair in New York showcases more that 1,000 contemporary artists. For more information, visit friezenewyork.com

BRIGHTONBrighton Festival | 6-28 May 2017 The critically acclaimed mixed arts festival is the biggest arts festival in the country - previous guest directors have included Aung San Suu Kyui, Vanessa Redgrave, Anish Kapoor and Hofesh Shechter. There are events scheduled across Brighton, including debates and musical and theatrical performances - many of which have been commissioned especially for the event. For more information, visit brightonfestival.org

AUSTRIAThe Vienna Festival |2017 dates to be released The Vienna Festival offers five weeks of dance, music, theatre, and visual arts. It offers a modern and multilingual program that covers everything from the classics to the avant-garde. For more information, visit festwochen.or.at

LONDON Spin LDN | 12-14 May 2017 Spin London, the UK's first urban cycling show and festival, debuted in 2013. There will be talks, screenings, music and food. Those looking to buy, build or merely browse bicycles by some of the leading designers (think tokyobike, Bicycle Taxidermy and Ally Capellino) will be overwhelmed with the array of two-wheelers on show.For more information, visit spinldn.com

IRELANDBallymaloe Litfest of Food & Wine | 19-21 May 2017 A stuffed larder of the most influential chefs and writers debating, discussing and demonstrating in County Cork. The Big Shed Fringe Festival has artisan stalls and entertainment into the wee hours. For more information, visit litfest.ie

HAY-ON-WYE How the Light Gets In |2017 dates to be released This is the world's largest philosophy festival. Famous thinkers, authors and other cultural figures will discuss, debate and postulate deep-rooted topics. For more information, visit howthelightgetsin.iai.tv

ST PETERSBURG The White Nights Festival |2017 dates to be released The White Nights Festival of ballet and opera is held at the city's famous Mariinsky Theatre during the magical summer period when the sun never sets. For more information, visit mariinsky.ru/en

GERMANY Berlin Festival |2017 dates to be released Jessie Ware, Bombay Bicycle Club and James Blake have performed here in the past. Attendees at Arena Park can also expect an Art Village and a Silent Arena, dedicated to quiet (read: headphones-on) revelry. For more information, visit berlinfestival.de

STRATFORD-UPON-AVONThe Comedy Hullabaloo |2017 dates to be released The Comedy Hullabaloo is making a return to Shakespeare's birthplace of Stratford-Upon-Avon this summer, where many comedians will be vying for the last laugh.For more information, visit comedyhullabaloo.com

WARWICKSHIRE Lunar Festival | 2017 dates to be released Springing up in Nick Drake's final resting place, Lunar Festival in Tanworth-in-Arden prides itself on doing things a little differently. This gently trippy three-day festival feels as though it's miles from civilisation in the rolling hills of Warwickshire, not far from Stratford-upon-Avon. The music is distinctly psychedelic and experimental. The site, Umberslade Farm Park, remains a working farm and puts on a ton of activities for kids, from handling baby chicks to milking goats. Even the accommodation is other-worldly, with a selection of Gypsy Bowtop Caravans and Bell Tents to sleep in if you daren't brave the mud. For more information, visit lunarfestival.co.uk

COPENHAGENDistortion | 2017 dates to be released [/b] Distortion, a party-culture festival in Copenhagen that attracts DJs from across the globe, sees the city's streets overwhelmed with thousands of revellers over its five-day span. Free street parties take place each day in a different district of the city (imagine impromptu crowd surfing, cooking, singing, live DJing and street-food aplenty). By night, clubs, record labels, magazines and party venues all host ticketed events. Plus, being eco-friendly Copenhagen, partygoers are invited to purchase a street bracelet ('Gadearmbåndet'), the funds of which go towards the clean-up afterwards, as well as future merrymaking.For more information, visit cphdistortion.dk

SUFFOLK Red Rooster | 1-3 June 2017 Launched in 2013, this fledgling festival transplants the slow-drawling American Deep South lifestyle to idyllic Euston Hall. Owner Harry Grafton, the 12th Duke, used to live in Nashville and toured with The Rolling Stones. The food is finger-licking good - gumbo, ribs, award-winning wings - and MEATliquor burgers are washed down with moonshine cocktails. At Red Rooster, RnB means authentic strumming, soul-stirring rhythm and blues, where bands have names that sound as good as their music (Big Boy Bloater, King Size Slim and Smokey Angle Shades have all been on the lineup in the past). For more information, visit redrooster.org.uk

BRIGHTONWild Life | 2017 dates to be released The masterminds behind Manchester's Warehouse Project and Parklife have brought their brand of dance-fun down to the South Coast. Taking place over two days, Wild Life see big names taking over Brighton City Airport for a mix of chart-pop and DJs. Everything ends at 11pm meaning you can head back to buzzy Brighton for an after-party. For more information, visit wildlifefestival.com

MANCHESTERParklife | 10-11 June 2017 Originally the ultimate end-of-exam party for Manchester students, Parklife has moved from its central location in 2013 to Heaton Park and continues to get bigger and better each year. Music includes everything from the likes of The Chemical Brothers on the main stage to smaller local DJs in the dance tents dotted around. There's no camping, meaning you can head back to a proper bed and a warm shower before the next day. For more information, visit parklife.uk.com

TENNESSEEBonnaroo | 8-11 June 2017 Bonnaroo has its roots in jam bands and folk rock - it is based in Tennessee, home of country music, after all. Alternative music with a folk edge is still its main raison d'être, but hip-hop also has a stronghold on the billing. Kanye West was a recent headliner.

EAST SUSSEXConchord at Rathfinny | 2017 dates to be released This festival is the ultimate event for wine and classical music enthusiasts, combining world-class piano performances with the picturesque views from the village of Alfriston in the Sussex Downs. For more information visit rathfinnyestate.com/events/

BULGARIA Meadows in the Mountains | 9-11 June 2017 Meadows in the Mountains and its Rhodopian Mountain setting on the Bulgarian border of Greece promise sublime vistas and a vibe that's been described as 'wild and romantic'. The festival's focus is dance music, but there are also things going on for art and literature lovers. For more information, visit meadowsinthemountains.com

LONDONField Day | 3-4 June 2017 Field Day is a catwalk for cool kids modelling double denim and expensive haircuts in Victoria Park, East London. The Village Mentality area is Field Day's stab at a traditional fête: try your hand at 'bat a rat' or join the contenders for tug-of-war. Alternatively, get back to nature or channel your inner scribe in the creative Caught by the River tent, fresh from an ultra-successful run at literary festival Port Eliot. Venn Street Market also pops up away from its south London home for the duration. For more information, visit fielddayfestivals.com

FINLANDThe Midnight Sun Film Festival | 2017 dates to be released The Midnight Sun Film Festival in Sodankylä, Finland, held during the 'white nights', is a five-day-and-night celebration of new cinema. For more information, visit msfilmfestival.fi

BARCELONA Sonar | 15-17 June 2017 [/b] Barcelona's franchised electrofest comes to the Anhembi suburb of Brazil's second city. Having hosted acts such as The Chemical Brothers, Lykke Li, Rudimental, Bonobo and Yelle, this is a festival that shouldn't be missed. The after-party at D.Edge, the city's coolest techno club, is legendary - so don't peak too early. For more information, visit sonarsaopaulo.com.br

SWITZERLAND Art Basel | 15-18 June 2017 See some of the world's best contemporary art at Art Basel; more than 2,500 artists are represented. Art Basel also has outposts in Miami and, more recently, in Hong Kong. For more information, visit artbasel.com

LIVERPOOLAfrica Oyé |17-18 June 2017 The UK's largest free African music festival is back in Liverpool's gorgeous Sefton Park. After hosting a record audience of 80,000 people in 2014, Africa Oyé is no doubt stronger than ever. Monumental live acts hail from across Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Americas. The celebration has grown from its humble beginnings to include DJs, international food stalls, the pop-up Oyé Village, and global vendors touting ethically-sourced fairtrade goods. A children's entertainment centre and an activity zone brimming with classes and workshops also make it a great spot for families. For more information, visit africaoye.com

SOMERSET Glastonbury Festival | 21-25 June 2017 What started as a few whacked-out friends playing prog rock on a farm has become the world's biggest festival, the size of a city. Every year it gets bigger, louder, messier; every year new fields of weirdness are added; every year Madonna is rumoured to be playing (she never does). Everyone will tell you it wasn't as good as it was in '94/'89/'78. Ignore them. Open your mind. Drink pear cider and mushroom shakes and spend three days wearing a ballgown over your wellies. For more information, visit glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

DENMARK Roskilde | 24 June-1 July 2017 Roskilde is Denmark's opportunity to prove they're more than just exceptional crime drama exporters, and bring some of the world's best rock, pop, hip-hop and dance acts to Scandinavia. For more information, visit roskilde-festival.dk

POLAND Open'er Festival | 28 June-1 July 2017 Poland's biggest music festival is the Heineken-sponsored Open'er in Gdnyia. There's also a fashion stage, where upcoming designers can exhibit their wares to a daunting 80,000-strong audience.For more information, visit opener.pl/en

CROATIAThe Garden Festival |2017 dates to be released Set in the gentle hills of Tisno overlooking the paradisiacal Dalmatian Coast, this event blurs the lines between festival and holiday. Some of the world's best DJs provide the soundtrack to open-air clubs, boat parties, beach parties, stages, and even secret island parties. Up your accommodation in one of the festival's on-site apartments, Shikar tents or retro trailers (fitted with air-con, showers, and a kitchenette). Attracting a global audience of sun-seeking adventurers, this festival is the best way to kick off your Croatian festival odyssey. For more information, visit thegardenfestival.eu

CROATIAFor Festival | 2017 dates to be released Tame Impala, Horse Meat Disco and 2manydjs rocked the Croatian island of Hvar last year at For. This summer acts will play to an intimate crowd of 2,500 dancing in a converted monastery. Beach parties are day and night; glow sticks at the ready! For more information, visit for-festival.com

NORFOLKWyndstock - A Midsummer Night's Ball | 2017 dates to be released There's an element of Gatsby to this country-house party. But this is not your average 20s-themed, just-bung-on-a-Next-faux-stole event. Rather than simply harking back to glorious heydays, Wyndstock is creating a new belle époque for the bright young things and dandies of today. It's set in the grounds of the Marquess of Cholmondeley's Palladian home, Houghton Hall in Norfolk. In the daytime there are games on the lawn; literary and art talks and tours around the grounds, afternoon tea and (decidedly un-20s) outdoor yoga classes. Then as evening falls, sundowners precede a candlelit banquet from the estate's own produce and, later, live music and DJs. Trip through the woods to find the secret cocktail bar and dancefloor that will be jumping until sunrise. It's a collaboration between Viktor Wynd of The Last Tuesday Society and the Bourne & Hollingsworth cocktail bar brigade, so we're expecting great things. And please, no high-street-faux-fur - only your finest threads. And possibly some wellies. From £70. For more information, email info@wyndstock.com or call +44 20 7724 1617

PARISParis Jazz Festival | 2017 dates to be released Big names as well as emerging talents will perform at the Paris Jazz Festival, in the city's beautiful Parc Floral. For more information, visit parisjazzfestival.fr[/i]

ST KITTS, CARIBBEANSt Kitts Music Festival | 2017 dates to be released Get a real taste of the Caribbean (and more than just a taste of rum) at St Kitts Music Festival. Held in the island's tiny capital Basseterre, the festival features a vibrant line-up. For more information, visit stkittsmusicfestival.com

TURKEYSunSplash | 2017 dates to be released Aspat Beach in Bodrum will play host to an event filled with music and talks, as well as music production seminars and yoga workshops. For more information, visit sunsplash-festival.com[/i]

GLOUCESTERSHIREBarn on the Farm | 29 June-2 July 2017 This intimate Gloucestershire festival has gained a strong reputation for its carefully curated line-ups of promising indie talent. With three stages set in - you guessed it - barns, this is the place to catch hot newcomers before they hit the big time. Previous years have seen Ed Sheeran, Ben Howard and Bastille perform. With a cosy capacity of 1,500 guests, Barn on the Farm is one of the only festivals where you can watch a band and then have a beer with them afterwards. For more information, visit barnonthefarm.co.uk

JULY

OTOK OBONJAN, CROATIA

23 June - 3 September 2017 The tiny olive-and-pine-tree-blanketed Croatian island of Otok Obonjan is the setting for this private-island summer party. The festival has an eclectic six-week programme that's a bit Wilderness, a bit Port Eliot. Acts will play at the stone amphitheatre overlooking the Adriatic, while at the Geodome - designed by the team behind the Eden Project - there will be workshops on a mind-broadening array of subjects from experts including Maths whizz professor Marcus du Sautoy and sustainability innovator Rachel Armstrong. Elsewhere, there's an underwater sculpture garden, an island cinema and a woodland wellbeing centre. The whole place has been decked out with safari-style tents, breezy beach clubs, late-night rum bars and restaurants dishing up everything from just-caught seafood to organic pizza. Price: Safari tents (sleep two) from about £60 per person per night, including live music, talks and performances. For more information visit otokobonjan.com

BILBAO BBK LIVE, SPAIN

6-8 July 2017 Each year some of the freshest international names in the charts convene on the side of Mount Cobetas for Bilbao BBK Live, with flower-crowned girls and neon-painted guys swaying under the Spanish sun. Read about The Best Music Festivals in SpainFor more information, visit bilbaobbklive.com/en-us/home

NOS ALIVE, LISBON

6-8 July 2017 Set in Portugal's vibrant capital - a stone's throw from historical landmarks, sandy beaches and the city's famously buzzy bars - NOS Alive (formerly Optimus Alive) is the ultimate festival for people who like their music festivals with a side of culture, sea and sun. While the three-day event remains one of Europe's best-kept secrets, it's still got the kudos to sign on big names. The gates open at 4pm and shut at 4am, so expect late nights dancing and long days chilling out on the beach. For more information visit nosalive.com

EXIT FESTIVAL, SERBIA

6-9 July 2017 Serbia's EXIT festival evolved out of student protests in 2000, but is now known less for its political roots and more for leading the way in the bass music scene in Europe. For more information, visit exitfest.org

NOISILY FESTIVAL, LEICESTERSHIRE

6-9 July 2017 This year is only Noisily Festival's fourth on the summer scene, but it's returning to Leicestershire's Coney Woods with a fresh line-up of electronic acts to play their Tipi and Treehouse stages. Guests can apply for grants to create zany art installations, and the festival's eco ethos means guests can stay in one of Green Yurt's environmentally-friendly tipis. For more information, visit noisilyfestival.com

BEATS, BEER AND BOOGALOO, CROATIA

13-17 July 2017 One of Croatia's pioneering music events was The Garden Festival. Its founders wound it up a couple of years gao, and decided to do something different: now they've launched a microbrewery and music venue, and are kicking off the brand new Beats, Beer and Boogaloo festival this July, a funktastic collaboration with Craig Charles. As well as Charles and his Fantasy Funk Band, the line-up includes the Hot 8 Brass Band, Geno Washington and The Ram Jam Band and Amp Fiddler, alongside an array of Garden Brewery artisan beers and street food; and it's all set on Croatia's beautiful Dalmatian Coast, in a lovely little spot on the mainland called Tisno. Price: £80 for the weekendFor more information visit www.beatsbeerandboogaloo.com

FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE BENICASSIM, Spain

13-16 July 2017 The ever-popular Benicàssim music festival in Spain is one of the few events where you can legitimately get away with sporting flip-flops and don't have to worry about drowning in mud. Friendliest festival crowd you'll find anywhere. Read about The Best Music Festivals in SpainFor more information, visit fiberfib.com/en

MELT!, GERMANY

14-16 July 2017 Melt! is the alternative music fan's haven. Located in Ferropolis, a place also known as the 'City of Iron' due to its setting in the shadow of towering mining cranes and excavators, the three-day electro and indie pop extravaganza is all about laser lights and non-stop, euphoric partying, Deutsch-style. When the stylish international crowds are tired from dancing to acts such as Kylie Minogue and Bonobo, they pitch tents beside the lake or collapse in a bunkbed on the Mixery Melt! sleeper train, ­a hotel (and bar) on wheels that also collects and drops off weekend merrymakers at a range of German cities. For more information visit meltfestival.de

SECRET GARDEN PARTY, CAMBRIDGESHIRE

20-23 July 2017 What's not to love? There's boating on the lake, a hidden sunflower field discovered Narnia-style through the back of a Portaloo, an epic finale with fireworks, a Spitfire flypast and the burning of the themed centrepiece on the lake. Music isn't really the big draw here and it's easy to bumble around enjoying Voga (Vogue-ing and yoga) lessons in the sunshine, whooping along to encourage the contestants on the Dance-Off stage or spinning out to secret DJ sets in the Badger Woods, without ever really watching the bands at all. For more information, visit secretgardenparty.com

CURIOUS ARTS FESTIVAL, HAMPSHIRE

20-23 July 2017 Are you a literary lover with a penchant for gin? The Curious Arts Festival features live music, book readings and film screenings. There are gin cocktails and a series of entertaining discussions as part of the Hendrick's Carnival of Knowledge. For those with green fingers there will also be the rare opportunity to explore the hidden gardens of the venue: Pylewell Park. For more information, visit curiousartsfestival.com

TRAMLINES, SHEFFIELD

21-23 July 2017 Last year, a whopping 95,000 people went to Tramlines, turning Sheffield's city centre into one huge festival rivaling that of any green-field site. Headline acts included Katy B, Public Enemy, The Cribs and Annie Mac. As well as ticketed music events, free arts and entertainment fill the city streets for the weekend, with dancers, theatre productions and family workshops. For more information, visit tramlines.org.uk

NOZSTOCK: THE HIDDEN VALLEY, HEREFORDSHIRE

21-23 July 2017 What began as an annual gathering of friends on a family farm has transformed into one of the best festivals in Britain. Father and daughter duo Noz and Ella have created a fantastic all-ages festival that fosters diversity, creativity, and a special intimacy between artists and audience, all still set on the same working farm in the charming Herefordshire countryside. And an impressive line-up every year: 2017's includes the Happy Mondays, Sugarhill Gang, Seasick Steve, The Correspondents, Hayseed Dixie and other festival favourites. There's temptingly affordable glamping with Zoo Bells, too.For more information, visit nozstock.com

VERBIER FESTIVAL, SWITZERLAND

21 July-6 August 2017 Enjoy classical music in a spectacular Alpine setting at the Verbier Festival, with about 60 concerts over 17 days. For more information, visit verbierfestival.com

KENDAL CALLING, THE LAKE DISTRICT

27-30 July 2017 This is just one big party and everyone's invited. Whether you're in the mood for crashing the Houseparty or relaxing to the sounds of folk tunes with a hot toddy, Kendal Calling has it covered. It all takes place in picturesque Lowther Deer Park and its green-fields setting has allowed the festival to grow organically. In 2015 it celebrated its 10th birthday by extending to four days, which is why it's often dubbed the 'Glastonbury of the North'. Expect fabulous fancy dress, secret sets in the woods, Cumbrian Olympics, record-breaking attempts, and lots of Kendal Mint Cake. For more information, visit kendalcalling.co.uk

WOMAD, WILTSHIRE

27-30 July 2017 A country estate outside Malmesbury is the landing site for all sorts of weird and wonderful sounds from around the globe - this is the place where you're most likely to hear Tibetan throat singers and drink a gallon of chai, though the 'world music' tag is pretty relaxed, and has recently embraced Brighton chanteuse Alice Russell, Sinéad O'Connor and Kiwi funkateers Fat Freddy's Drop as well as African superstars such as Salif Keita and Youssou N'Dour. Bring an open mind and you'll leave with a clutch of new names to listen to. Prince Harry (sporting an Angry Birds hat) has been spotted in recent years, but it mostly attracts families (the Children's Carnival is on Sunday) and grown-up music fans. If you want to bring your teenage brood to a festival and let them loose, knowing they'll be safe, this is the one. For more information, visit womad.co.uk

PORT ELIOT, CORNWALL

27-30 July 2017 The ultimate posh literary festival, where authors become the rock stars of the weekend. And there are quite a lot of rock stars there, too, pretending they're in it for the books; also artists, foodies, artisans, thinkers, talkers, bohemians, idlers, and any combination of the above. Alex James with his homemade cheese, Noel Fielding interviewing ageing heroes - you get the picture. Website: porteliotfestival.com

SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL, CROATIA

27-31 July 2017 The new Ibiza - beaches, sun and the best dance music at this bijou bash with three stages just around the bay from the pretty fishing village of Tisno. The daily boat parties, where DJs and record labels put on a show to a sunset backdrop, require separate tickets to festival tickets. And the after-party, which kicks off each night at the open-air club Barbarella's, is worth making a beeline for. For more information, visit soundwavecroatia.com

STANDON CALLING, HERTFORDSHIRE

28-30 July 2017 This boutique shindig in the grounds of a stately house has become a staple on the festival scene. And what began in 2001 as organiser Alex Trenchard's birthday barbecue in the gardens of his family home, Standon Lordship, has grown into the next-door farmer's fields. Standon takes its themes very seriously. The last festival was 'A Town of Two Faces', a Wild West backwater with taxidermy classes and lessons on how to survive a stand-off with a rattlesnake. Music-wise Standon books bands bigger than its size: Basement Jaxx and The Dandy Warhols headed up the 2015 lineup, while Gilles Peterson played The Cowshed (a nightclub in a real cowshed). This year's acts are equally impressive: Orbital, Clean Bandit and the legendary Grace Jones are the headliners; Kate Tempest, Laura Mvula and Gary Numan among those supporting - with DJ Yoda, Faithless and Hot Chip's Joe Goddard on DJ duties.

LUCCA MUSIC FESTIVAL, TUSCANY

14 June - 23 July 2017 The picturesque town of Lucca in Tuscany plays host to some massive names in music this summer. Elton John, Robbie Williams and Lenny Kravitz have all played in its historic Piazza Napoleone. Well, everybody needs a holiday. For more information, visit summer-festival.com

DUBROVNIK SUMNER FESTIVAL, CROATIA

10 July - 25 August 2017 Enjoy music, dance, opera and theatre at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. If you can manage the heat, take a walk atop the city's famous walls for views of the city and the coastline.

BRISTOL HARBOUR FESTIVAL

21 - 23 July 2017 Bristol City Council Arts & Culture department have rounded up a cornucopia of musical and performance acts to be showcased and enjoyed - free of charge - around the city's sights. Highlights are the kids' activities aboard the Brunel SS Great Britain, the acoustic concerts on the city's Cascade Steps and the special Happy City Zone.

MIDI FESTIVAL, SOUTH OF FRANCE

21 - 23 July 2017 The pretty medieval hill town of Hyères in the French Riviera serves as the base for Midi Festival, a three-day showcase of some of the world's best left-field music. Au Revoir Simone, Erol Alkan and Connan Mockasin are a few of the acts that played last year beneath the stars at one of the festival's three quirky venues: a racetrack, beach, and an arts centre. For more information, visit midi-festival.com

SOMERSAULT, DEVON

Dates for 2018 yet to be released Launched by the Wilderness team, Somersault is a bit like the Oxfordshire version used to be: relatively small, cool and with a dollop of quirkiness. Packed with locals and families from further afield, this festival has the spirit of a monster fair and the heart of a summer camp. What's unique about Somersault is its off-site action: surfing and paddle-boarding at nearby Croyde Bay; rock climbing up Castle Rock. And on the estate, there's wild swimming and feasts from River Cottage and The Ethicurean. For more information, visit somersaultfestival.com

WORLD BODYPAINITNG FESTIVAL, AUSTRIA

28 - 30 July 2017 Meet colourful people at the World Bodypainting Festival, a blend of art, fashion and music that attracts tens of thousands of visitors.For more information, visit bodypainting-festival.com

LARMER TREE FESITVAL, DORSET

No festival in 2017, 20 - 22 July 2018 Roaming peacocks, ornate pagodas and costumed performance artists are just some of the quirky features at this vibrant woodland festival. Set in the historic Larmer Tree pleasure gardens, this family-friendly, five-day event offers revellers an array of international, genre-spanning music across six stages. The line-up also includes stand-up comedy, bargain-hunting in the vintage bazaars and activities such as jam sessions, craft workshops and relaxation therapies. Children will love the bubble discos, while adults are invited to dance their wellies off at new late-night DJ arena The Hide, tucked away in the Lostwood. For more information, visit larmertreefestival.co.uk

BLUE DOT FESTIVAL, CHESHIRE

7 - 9 July 2017 At other festivals, 'dark matter' is something to be avoided in the compostable loos. Here, though, it's just one of many cosmic subjects to get to grips with over the weekend, as more than 200 astronomers and astrophysicists share their universal knowledge of the Big Bang, star birth and gravitational waves. Blue Dot is the first festival to be held at Jodrell Bank, the incredible observatory in the Cheshire countryside, and fuses together the hard science with an incredible musical line-up.For more information, visit discoverthebluedot.com

LOLLAPALOOZA, CHICAGO

2 - 6 August 2017 Famed music fest Lollapalooza - which started out as a travelling farewell to the band Jane's Addiction before it settled down to live happily ever after in Chicago's Grant Park - has a strong a line up as ever for this year, including Chance The Rapper, Lorde, Arcade Fire and The Killers. Guests can expect all the regular hallmarks of a lolloping, rollicking good time: Chow Town, the festival's food market, is set to make a return, as is eco-centre Green Street, and Kidzapalooza. For more information, visit lollapalooza.com

WILDERNESS FESTIVAL, THE COTSWOLDS

3 - 6 August 2017 Only at Wilderness will you see barefoot, flower-garland-toting bohemians prance about the woods and skinny-dip in the lake at Cornbury Park while live music plays. This year's lineup includes Bonobo, Grace Jones and Two Door Cinema Club. There are also massive banquets and menus by chefs Nuno Mendes, Yotam Ottolenghi, Thomasina Miers and Angela Hartnett. The people behind Secret Garden Party turn up and put on masked balls and wild late-night parties; and there are thought-provoking talks and symposiums by professors, philanthropists and The School of Life. For more information, visit wildernessfestival.com

FESTIVAL INTERCELTIQUE, BRITTANY

4 - 13 August 2017 Lorient in Brittany celebrates Celtic culture from Scotland to Galicia in this 9-day festival with concerts, dance performances and cultural tours. Don't miss the Grande Parade of the Celtic Nations, which brings together more than 3,500 musicians, dancers and artists - all in traditional dress, on the streets of the busy seaport. For more information, visit facebook.com/festival.interceltique

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL, SCOTLAND

4 - 28 August 2017 The world's largest single arts festival brings together performers of every imaginable ilk, from comedians to acrobats, from the mainstream to the far-out, creating a truly electric buzz across the whole of Edinburgh every August. The Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe take place in tandem, as well as a book festival in Charlotte Square and some brilliant food stalls and bars popping up around the city - so there's a fairly overwhelming amount going on. Our tips for 2017: performances from Benjamin Clementine and PJ Harvey, and Irish comedian Andrew Maxwell playing the Assembly George Square Theatre. For more information, visit edfringe.com

GUCA TRUMPET FESTIVAL, SERBIA

9 - 13 August 2017 A brass band festival like no other, this - the country village of Guca goes absolutely mental every August when it fills with thousands of musicians and thousands more who come to hear, watch, dance to the cacophonous sounds of Balkan brass and traditional gypsy wedding music being played absolutely everywhere, at speed and all at once. For more information, visit guca.rs

BOARDMASTERS FESTIVAL, CORNWALL

- 13 August 2017 The UK's surf capital of Newquay, in Cornwall, does beachside, sea-and-salt fuelled fun with the annual Broadmasters Festival, a five-day celebration of music and surf. There are surf competitions at Fistral Beach, skate and BMX ramps for the less aqua-inclined. For more information, visit boardmasters.co.uk

SZIGET, BUDAPEST

9 - 16 August 2017 This monster of a music festival spans seven days and the full 266 acres of the River Danube's Obuda island. Spend your days on the beach and party by night to the 1,000+ acts - from heavy-metal rockers to boy bands - performing over the course of the week.For more information, visit szigetfestival.com

WAY OUT WEST FESTIVAL, SWEDEN

10 - 12 August 2017 Blur, Bon Iver, and Florence and the Machine have all been among the performers at the Way Out West festival, held in venues all over Gothenburg, Sweden. This year's lineup includes Major Lazor and Lana Del Ray. For more information, visit wayoutwest.se

PUCK FAIR, IRELAND

10 - 12 August 2017 Join the three-day party at Puck Fair in Killorglin, County Kerry, one of Ireland's oldest festivals, where a goat is crowned king of Killorglin and the pubs are full of live music. There's also a horse and live cattle show.For more information, visit puckfair.ie

BOOMTOWN FAIR, HAMPSHIRE

10 - 13 August 2017 Now in its ninth year and billed as 'the most immersive and theatrical festival experience on earth', Boomtown just keeps getting bigger and better. What was once a 'township' has become a full-on fantastical 'city', with distinct districts, building-lined roads and an elaborate mythology to boot. This year - perhaps in antidote to the current doom 'n' gloom national mood - Boomtown's dystopian story has taken a more hopeful turn, with a benevolent corporation bringing the town back from the brink of disaster to remind revellers that the future is their own. Acts such as M.I.A, Cypress Hill and Ziggy Marley will play, and there are more than 25 stages, with an additional 80 street venues to discover and dance the night away in. For more information, visitboomtownfair.co.uk

INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA, BRISTOL

10 - 13 August 2017 Free for the whole family is Europe's largest ballooning event, Bristol's International Balloon Fiesta. More than 150 balloons take off from Ashton Court Estate at dawn, and linger in the air until evening, when they illuminate the skies. For more information, visit bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk

FFOREST GATHER, PEMBROKESHIRE

14 - 27 August 2017 James Lynch and Sian Tucker opened their woodland camp in 2007, and it's been evolving ever since. They organised a small festival last year, but this is a far more considered project. There's live music and DJs, but rather than just lying around listening to other people get creative, guests are encouraged to get actively involved - in everything from wild swimming, baking sourdough and drumming to tree climbing, mixing beer cocktails and making a totem. You will return with new skills. The setting - 200 acres of rambling woodland just outside Cardigan, with domes to sleep in and its own haunted granite pub - is magical. For more information, visit coldatnight.co.uk/events-test/fforest-gather-2016

17 - 23 August 2017 This music and arts festival has been years in the making. Taking place during the first total solar eclipse visible from North America since 1979, the week-long gathering will see people come together from more than 70 countries to enjoy a musical lineup 300+ artists strong, epic art installations (think Burning Man), theatrical performances and a diverse bunch of speakers from an award-winning vocalist to a CEO and scientist. Set in the stunning Ochoco National Forest, which has never before been used for a festival, the art boats on the lake in the very centre of the site look set to be as awe-inspiring as the eclipse itself. For more information, visithttp://oregoneclipse2017.com/

GREEN MAN FESTIVAL, WALES

17 - 20 August 2017 What began 15 years ago as a micro fireside festival has got bigger and louder over the years, but has retained its easygoing character and idiosyncratic line-ups - and it's a strong contender for being one of the best family festivals too. There's a strong folkish-indie flavour - head to the Walled Garden for the most intimate performances - but you'll also hear dirty rock'n'roll, blissed-out psychedelia and dance pop. This year's line-up includes The Shins, Sleaford Mods, Kate Tempest, Future Islands and PJ Harvey, but dig deeper to find Roni Size, Pictish Trail and folk legend Shirley Collins, who has started singing again after a long absence. As a finale, the eponymous Green Man (made of wood) is set ablaze. The location, a valley beneath the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons, is magical. You could easily spend a couple of days here either side of the festival and explore foodie haven Abergavenny and the surrounding countryside. For more information, visit greenman.net

SUMMER SONIC, JAPAN

18 - 20 August 2017 Japan's leading music festival takes place in two metropolises: Tokyo and Osaka. Each city has its own amped-up selection of performers playing, with this year's line-up including Calvin Harris, Foo Fighters and Liam Gallagher. Other attractions are yet to be announced, but in previous years have included a silent disco and dedicated art and kids' areas. For more information, visit summersonic.com

LOST VILLAGE, LINCOLNSHIRE

24 - 27 August 2017 In no way to be confused with the recent Smurfs film, this is one of the UK's most inventive festivals, mixing a whimsical woodland setting with a rock-solid line-up of dance acts and DJs. It made its debut in 2015, founded by the duo behind Lincoln's legendary Moda Black club night, Jaymo and Andy George, and has kept the numbers limited to around 5,000 people. The three stages are set amongst the trees, with dreamcatchers, strobes, smoke machines and wandering 'villagers' creating an atmospheric, fairytale landscape. There's a lakeside wellness area, for those vital Indian head massages and hot tubs, and an impressive Boutique Sanctuary of tipis and suites that offers residents 24-hour concierge and a cocktail bar (as well as squeaky clean bathrooms). This year's foodie line-up includes James Lowe from Michelin-starred Lyle restaurant, Lee Westcott and Elizabeth Allen, and Sunday roasts from Hawksmoor. As for the sounds, Mr Scruff, Ibibio Sound Machine, Greg Wilson, The Black Madonna, Moderat and De La Soul will be among those rustling the leaves this year. For more information, visit lostvillagefestival.com

SHAMBALA, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

24 - 27 August 2017 Reusable cups and £10 if you return a full bag of recycling at the end of the weekend means this is one of the cleanest, prettiest festivals around. It's a hit with kids too; they form tribes to make dens, join in the fancy-dress parade and roast marshmallows on campfires. Yet it manages to combine this family-friendly goodness with a healthy dose of hippy hedonism and plenty of hidden late-night fun, from Mr Hung's Chinese Laundry party tent to the massive, banging Kamikaze dance area. A musical line-up that leans heavily on DJs and electronic beats keeps the tempo up. For more information, visit shambalafestival.org

THE AMERICAN FOLK FESTIVAL, MAINE

25 - 27 August 2017 New England's cultural heritage is celebrated through music and dance at the American Folk Festival. It features traditional craft demonstrations, ethnic food vendors, and various group performances. For more information, visit americanfolkfestival.com

SOUTH WEST FOUR, LONDON

26 - 27 August 2017 For the past 12 years Clapham Common has been hosting South West Four, one of the biggest electronic music festivals in the UK. The visual effects are just as impressive as the world class DJs spinning the decks with past acts including Deadmau5 and Alesso. For more information, visit southwestfour.com

VICTORIUS FESTIVAL, PORTSMOUTH

26 - 27 August 2017 Imagine 40,000 people partying to the same sound on one tiny island off the south coast... Victorius takes place over the weekend; there's no camping but the party continues down Albert Road in bars and pubs with live music and special events. Past headliners have included Dizzee Rascal, Seasick Steve and Tom Odell. For more information, visit victoriousfestival.co.uk

BURNING MAN, NEVADA

27 August - 4 September 2017 A cult favourite, Burning Man - in a middle-of-nowhere spot in the Nevada desert - draws together an eccentric community of 50,000, who build a temporary metropolis, Black Rock City - before sending it all up in flames (but not before the party of a lifetime). The event takes its name from the burning of 'The Man' - an effigy that comes to embody the ethos of the event: community, artwork, absurdity, revelry, inclusion, self-expression and civil responsibility. And a LOT of hallucinogenics. For more information, visit burningman.com

NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL, LONDON

27 - 28 August 2017 Ask any young Londoner what they're doing on the August bank holiday weekend and the answer will be almost always be 'Carnival'. The two-day celebration of Caribbean culture sees one of London's wealthiest postcodes transformed into Europe's biggest street festival, with food stalls selling a range of food as diverse as the city itself (although it would be a crime not to opt for jerk chicken), parades and, of course, an almighty array of live music. Expect soca floats, steel pans and the most flamboyant costumes you'll ever see outside of Rio. For more information, visitthelondonnottinghillcarnival.com

30 August - 3 September 2017 The abandoned 19th-Century Fort Punta Christo is brought back to life for Dimensions Festival's fifth year, with underground techno, house, and electronica. Situated on a small peninsula near the ancient city of Pula with dazzling views of the Adriatic shore, it begins with a concert in a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre, and proceeds with inner-citadel performances and beach and boat parties. Set in a historical location, this festival fuses the sounds of the future with the ruins of civilisation. For more information, visit dimensionsfestival.com

END OF THE ROAD, DORSET

31 August - 3 September 2017 This is a cut above your average summer bash. It's held in the Grade-II listed grounds of the Larmer Tree Gardens, where peacocks roam as freely as the plaid-wearing party-goers and a population of macaw parrots soar happily over the queue for the Portaloos. Then there's the diverse and delicious food, from Tibetan dumplings to Savoie tartiflette. And the music really gets fans enthusing about the impeccable credentials of the line-up - plenty of cool, critics' favourites, with an acoustic bent - which is carefully curated by the festival's music-mad co-founder Simon Taffe. For more information, visit endoftheroadfestival.com

THE NEW GENERATION FESTIVAL, FLORENCE

31 August - 3 September 2017 Don't worry, the Renaissance city isn't installing a 30Kw sound system next to the Uffizi or sparking up pagan bonfires on the Ponte Vecchio. But it is introducing drag acts, jazz bands and a fresh approach to classical music to one of Florence's secret private gardens. The New Generation Festival has been co-founded by Scottish-born music impresario Maximilian Fane, with violinist Charlie Siem as artistic director, and performers including soprano Anush Hovhannisyan. But the real star is the Corsini Gardens, designed in 1591 and concealed behind the façade of the Palazzo Corsini. It's a real oasis in the heart of the city, with lemon orchards, wooded groves and ornamental cherry trees, guarded by statues of the human and canine variety. While you're here, you may meet a few of the garden's inhabitants, which include around 100 turtles, who will no doubt appreciate favourites by Rossini and Bruch, Beethoven's Symphony No.5 in C Minor, and Donizetti's comic opera L'Elisir d''Amore. Treat yourself to a picnic basket of Florentine goodies, and roam the gardens to discover hidden parties and a secret midnight concert. The Renaissance architect who created the gardens, Bernardo Buontalenti, is also said to have invented gelato, which give you an excuse to try lots of this while you're here. For more information, visit newgenerationfestival.org

31 August - 3 September 2017 This new four-day party cruise combines dance-festival vibes with the comfort of a vast passenger liner - the ideal festival for anyone with an aversion to camping. The Freedom of the Seas sets sail from Barcelona and stops off in Marseille and Ibiza before returning to Barcelona, but there's so much going on onboard that even a pitstop in the White Isle might not tempt you onto dry land. The floating festival will welcome more than 50 DJs, from Clatpone and Cassius to Roger Sanchez and 2manydjs, with seven different stages, each hosted by a different dance concept giant including Elrow and Ministry of Sound. For more information, visittheark.cruises

OUTLOOK FESTIVAL, CROATIA

7 - 10 September 2017 19th-Century Fort Punta Christo and its idyllic surroundings are reanimated with the booming bass of Outlook Festival's incredibly impressive array of hip-hop, grime, reggae, techno, dub, and more. Whether you're partying in the fortress moat, dungeon, forest, harbour stage, on the beach or on a boat, some of the greatest makers and shakers of modern music will be there to ensure a transformative experience. For more information, visit outlookfestival.com

FESTIVAL No. 6, WALES

7 - 10 September 2017 For three days, this beautiful, pastel-coloured Italianate village is taken over by festival-goers for dancing on the estuary's Ibiza-esque sand, raving in the lantern-strewn magical forest and refuelling on street food from around the world. It attracts a more sophisticated, thirty-something crowd who hanker after spa-standard massages and pop-up musical bingo, as well as live indie bands, comedy and DJs. For more information, visit festivalnumber6.com

OASIS, MOROCCO

15 - 17 September 2017 Bringing an all-new festival experience to Morocco, Oasis at the The Source will be a three-day event of music mixed with Marrakech's sun, pools and mountain views. For a complete experience, guests can also enjoy local street food as well as yoga and wellness activities on site. For more information, visit theoasisfest.com

BESTIVAL, ISLE OF WIGHT

7-10 September 2017 After Glastonbury, this is the British music festival that gets all the best acts. It's always been big and it's always channeled its inner Day-Glo diva, but for the first time this year, it's being held at Lulworth Estate in Dorset instead of the Isle of Wight. For more information, visit bestival.net

RESTIVAL, ARIZONA

14 -17 and 21 - 26 September 2017 Being woken by a drip-drip-drip on your face in a leaky tent will never be a worry when the festival is in the desert. This is the next frontier in outdoor shindigs, where DJ sets and brass bands boom forth from tents and party-goers zoom about on quad bikes. Pioneering the pitch-up in Arizona are Restival, a nomadic-style retreat-festival with sound baths, yoga, body art and morning raves. For more information, visit restivalglobal.com

THE CONTEMPORARY ISTANBUL ART FAIR, TURKEY

14-17 September 2017 If you love modern art, make the trip to Turkey this month. The Contemporary Istanbul art fair has been luring experimental enthusiasts away from the big guns that are Art Basel and Frieze and into a city that is continually contradictory. If Turkey's flagship commercial art event is as yet off the radar on the world horizon, the country's artists are getting increasingly more attention abroad, and Istanbul is an impulsive, absurdly noisy siren of a city. For more information, visit contemporaryistanbul.com

THE GOOD LIFE EXPERIENCE, WALES

15 - 17 September 2017 In the fourth edition of The Good Life Experience Thomasina Miers (of Mexican street food Wahaca fame) and Tom Herbert (one half of The Fabulous Baker Brothers) will be cooking and founder Cerys Matthews has curated the eclectic music line-up. Axe throwing, archery, knot tying and leather-working are just a selection of the outdoor crafts on offer while Ben Fogle and The Idler Academy will be adding ideas to the literature and ideas tent. For more information, visit thegoodlifeexperience.co.uk

OKTOBERFEST, GERMANY

16 September - 3 October 2017 Munich's world-famous Beerfest returns this year, with more speciality German beer (Paulaner, Augustiner and other Oktoberfest-approved brews) and accompanying Sauerkraut and Weisswurst than imaginable in one's wildest dreams. For more information, visit oide-wiesn.de/oktoberfest; five-day trips are available via G Adventures from £699 per person (gadventures.com)

THE GALWAY INTERANTIONAL OYSTER FESTIVAL, IRELAND

22 - 24 September 2017 The International Oyster Festival marks the start of the oyster season. As well as shucking and tasting, there will be a parade and a gala ball. For more information, visit galwayoysterfest.com

WORLD CLUB DOME, SOUTH KOREA

22 - 24 September 2017 The German BigCityBeats brand is heading from Frankfurt to South Korea for an inaugural festival held at Incheon Munhak Sports Complex that's set to be the biggest of its kind for the country. Don't let the fact it's a new festival put you off, though; the line-up includes massive names such as Steve Aoki, Robin Schulz, Afrojack, Martin Garrix and Armin Van Buuren. For more information, visit worldclubdomekorea.com

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, LAS VEGAS

22 - 24 September 2017 End the festival season on a serious high at Life is Beautiful, a three-day extravaganza that sees Downtown Las Vegas transformed into a fully immersive celebration of music, art, food and ideas. Prepare yourself for performances from Chance the Rapper, Blink-182, Muse, Gorillaz and The xx, food by Las Vegas's top restaurants, thought-provoking speakers like Bill Nye The Science Guy sharing 'big messages' and incredible immersive art installations such as the Art Motel. This is the ultimate international city-based experience for festival lovers who want all the magic but none of the mud. For more information, visit lifeisbeautiful.com

LOOPALLU, ROSS-SHIRE

29 - 30 September 2017 Five hours drive from Edinburgh, Loopallu happens in the tiny Ross-shire town of Ullapool beside Loch Broom. Watch seals bobbing in the bay from your tent, sup Black Isle Brewery ales and dine at porridge bars or on locally landed seafood, including oysters and fish and chips. A waterfront big top hosts headliners more famous than such a small event has a right to book (Mumford and Sons, Paolo Nutini and Franz Ferdinand have all made the journey). After-hours, Loopallu sprawls out across Ullapool's pubs, where uninhibited Highlands-style partying goes on into the wee hours. For more information, visit loopallu.co.uk

THE HERMANUS WHALE FESTIVAL, SOUTH AFRICA

29 September - 1 October 2017 Watch migrating Southern Right whales (and celebrate other marine life) at the Hermanus Whale Festival. Expect ocean-themed activities and exhibitions with an emphasis on environmentally responsible adventures during the only eco-marine festival in South Africa. For more information, visit whalefestival.co.za

THE SOCIAL FESTIVAL, KENT

29 - 30 September 2017 Globally acclaimed dance DJ Nic Fanciulli is bringing his Social Festival back to Maidstone for a fifth run this year. Expect spectacular sets from the biggest players in the electronic music scene across four gigantic arenas, plus some surprise never-seen-before outdoor arenas that are being launched especially for the festivals' fifth birthday celebration. The line-up includes Acid Mondays, Carl Cox, Black Coffee and house heavyweights The Martinez Brothers. For more information, visit thesocialfestival.com

2017 dates to be released Dubbed Oldchella, this is real rock's last stand. This festival pitches up on the same site as Coachella, but its line-up has more in common with the 1960s Isle of Wight Festival: The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and The Who are all signed up. Just as ageing rockers never f-f-fade away but start laying down vintage port, there's also four-course meals and wine pairings on the bill. Cool band T-shirts have become empty fashion statements, so skip Urban Outfitters and prove your long-term fandom with a tour tee instead. The Stones' 'Voodoo Lounge' works. For more information, visit deserttrip.com

13-15 October 2017 Get your rave on in a Game of Thrones setting. With an edgy line-up of tech-house and electro DJs fused with digital art, the hippie hangout of Essaouira hasn't seen anything this trippy since Zappa and Hendrix bowled around within its crumbling ramparts. For more information, visit mogafestival.com

1-5 November 2017 What began in an aeroplane hangar in 1999 has now evolved into Iceland Airwaves, an eclectic mix of musical acts (this year: Ásgeir, Caribou, and Hozier) playing an equally eclectic mix of intimate venues throughout Reykjavik. Many visitors combine the five day festival with a whistle-stop tour of Iceland's best volcanic bits, including the famous Blue Lagoon (probably because its healing qualities make for a perfect hangover cure).For more information, visit icelandairwaves.is; Icelandair Hotels work in conjunction with Iceland Airwaves (icelandairhotels.com).

2017 dates to be announced The outlandish Las Vegas-born festival franchise - known as USA's one-stop Ibiza equivalent - is making waves with its first Delhi edition. Party in hyper-colour at a Formula 1 track about two hours from the Taj Mahal. Expect to see die-hard Burning Man regulars, and more lights and action than Diwali. The original EDC is known for bonkers garb that's part Playboy Mansion, part Coney Island Mermaid Parade. It would be rude not to mix saris and bindis with flower crowns and day-glo body paint. For more information, visit india.electricdaisycarnival.com

DECEMBER

Rhythm & Vines, NEW ZEALAND

29 December 2017-1 January 2018 If you want to be the first to see in the New Year, Sydney Harbour isn't the only place to do it. New Zealand's Rhythm & Vines (vines for the family vineyard it takes place in, at Waiohika Estate, Gisborne) has hosted acts such as local boys The Black Seeds, Aussies Tame Impala and Cut Copy, Calvin Harris, Mark Ronson and N*E*R*D. The line-up is spread across three days on five stages and you can choose to stay in a camper van, glamp under canvas, stay in a cute little tepee village, VIP it in a hotel, or keep it real in a good old tent. It's not just about music - pool parties run from day to night at each of the camp's three swimming pools, there's volleyball on the beach, you can take boat trips to Taumotu Island (which also happens to be the area's best surf spot), spot dolphins in the ocean and rock-slide on an inflatable ring by Rere Falls. For more information, visit rhythmandvines.co.nz

Altitude Comedy Festival, AUSTRIA

11-17 December 2017 Comedy and powder skiing combined; Jimmy Carr, Tim Minchin, Marcus Brigstocke and Eddy Izzard have all been among the star attractions at the Altitude Comedy Festival held in Mayrhofen, one of Europe's top ski resorts. For more information, visit altitudefestival.com